Community leaders have been demanding the video's release since October of 2014 when the incident took place. A judge ordered that the video be released as the shooting officer, Jason Van Dyke, is being held without bail on a first-degree murder charge.

Peaceful protests erupted throughout the city after the video was released Tuesday night.

McDonald's family has asked that all protests remain that way.

“No one understands the anger more than us but if you choose to speak out, we urge you to be peaceful,” the statement said. “Don’t resort to violence in Laquan’s name, let his legacy be better than that.”